Jersey City turns to GPS tracking to monitor city vehicles

By August 13, 2013 at 1:50 PM

The Jersey City Department of Public Works has added GPS tracking devices to 20 of its vehicles as part of a pilot program aimed at helping the municipality curb personal use of city vehicles and cut down on fuel costs.

Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop said the program has produced immediate results.

“Already this GPS program helped eliminate wasteful vehicle idling times, thereby reducing fuel consumption,” Fulop said in a statement. “It has also eliminated unauthorized stops and after-hour usage by city employees, and has greatly improved productivity while creating efficiency and accountability throughout the Department of Public Works.”

The initial 20 installations are part of a 30-day test run, which is being conducted at no cost to taxpayers, officials said. If the devices are deemed a success, they will be added to 75 more Public Works vehicles and, eventually, throughout the Jersey City Police Department and other city agencies.

The system, created by Vehicle Tracking Solutions LLC, of Deer Park, N.Y., tracks drive time, stop time, hours driven, routes taken and idle time. It also allows Public Works to create designated areas for approved travel and receive notifications when a vehicle travels outside that area.